Malicious Code Injection in gleaming_prawn_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-94697: Malicious code in gleaming_prawn_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The package 'gleaming_prawn_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is linked to the tea.xyz token reward campaign, notorious for flooding npm with malicious packages. These packages often contain scripts that manipulate package metadata and publish numerous derivative packages to inflate developer reputation scores, posing a significant risk to the integrity of the npm registry.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'gleaming_prawn_z3n' originates from its association with the tea.xyz token reward campaign. It includes malicious scripts that modify the package.json file by removing private flags, altering version numbers, and generating random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, which pollutes the npm registry and can compromise the security and reliability of dependent applications.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall gleaming_prawn_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can prevent the installation of this malicious package by using npm's package-lock.json to lock your dependencies. Additionally, you can monitor your project for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert, which analyzes your package-lock.json file for known vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'gleaming_prawn_z3n' package poses a significant threat due to its malicious behavior aimed at manipulating the npm registry. It is essential to remove this package from your project and utilize tools like Vulert to monitor for vulnerabilities effectively. Staying informed and proactive can help safeguard your applications from such threats.
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FAQ
'gleaming_prawn_z3n' is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign to manipulate the npm registry.
This vulnerability can lead to the introduction of malicious code into your project, potentially compromising its security and integrity.
You should immediately remove 'gleaming_prawn_z3n' from your project and monitor for any updates or patches.
Yes, you can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
Regularly audit your dependencies, use tools like Vulert for real-time monitoring, and stay updated on security advisories related to the packages you use.
